Madagascar: Former First Lady Contests in Presidential Poll

The wife of Madagascar's ousted President Marc Ravalomanana has filed in her papers to stand in the country's presidential elections slated for July 2013.

The former First Lady Lalao Ravalomanana who fled to South Africa with her husband after he was forced out of power must have her candidacy approved by the country's electoral court as she has not lived in Madagascar for the length of time required by the electoral laws.

"As President Ravalomanana cannot stand in the presidential election, his wife is our natural candidate," Mamy Rakotoarivelo, Member of Parliament and former close associate of Mr Ravalomanana, told the Reuters news agency.

Mr Ravalomanana was ousted in 2009 by supporters of Andry Rajoelina, backed by the army, sending Madagascar into four years of both political and economic instability.